Hello:
Picked up a new WSM 18.5 a few weeks ago, but hadn't touched it until Sunday. Cooked two chickens cut in half with the water pan full. Temp ran very high at first - over 300. I had a digital probe inserted in the center whatchyamcallit. Dome thermometer was running definitely higher. Once stabilized it was running at 235 or so, until it started cooling off. I would add a few briquettes, and get the temp back up. After few hours, I was battling the temperature, so I finally pulled them off and finished on the propane grill. Only needed to bring them up a few degrees to finish them.
I consider it a successful launch. Playing with the vents and seeing what happens. The family loved the chicken.
This weekend will be ribs and more chicken. Possibly a meatloaf.
Picked up a new WSM 18.5 a few weeks ago, but hadn't touched it until Sunday. Cooked two chickens cut in half with the water pan full. Temp ran very high at first - over 300. I had a digital probe inserted in the center whatchyamcallit. Dome thermometer was running definitely higher. Once stabilized it was running at 235 or so, until it started cooling off. I would add a few briquettes, and get the temp back up. After few hours, I was battling the temperature, so I finally pulled them off and finished on the propane grill. Only needed to bring them up a few degrees to finish them.
I consider it a successful launch. Playing with the vents and seeing what happens. The family loved the chicken.
This weekend will be ribs and more chicken. Possibly a meatloaf.
